Improvement in fare-boxes



'i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR JAMES MOXHAM, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPRovEMENT IN FARE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,671, dated April 14, 1874; application filed l ADecember 3, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. MoxHAM,

I of the city of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented an Improvement in'Passen ger Fare-Boxes, of which the following isa specication:

This invention relates to a class of registeringfare-boxes'; and consists, generally, of the combination, in a fare-box, of a receiving with a recording mechanism, all of which will be specially and fully hereinafter described. The objectxof this invention is twofold-first, to provide an efficient means of causing passengers, or persons in any traveling conveyance or assembly, to deposit in a fare-box the fare 0r money which may be justly due by them, by causing a gong, actuated by suitable mechanism, to announce the fact of the deposit of thefare after such deposit has been made; and, secondly, coincidently with the sounding of the gong, to cause a suitable mechanism to record on a dial thenumber of fares paid or persons depositing fare in the box during any certain time. Any failure to deposit fare in the box will thus 4be rendered obvious to the person in charge of the box, and to other persons or passengers, by the failure of the gong to sound; and the abstraction of fare from the box, or the tampering with the mechanism thereof by any unauthorized person, can thus be readily detected by those to whose custody the box is intrusted for the purpose of collecting or noting its contents, by observing either the action or non-action ofthe recording mechanism.

In order to accomplish the object above mentioned, I'construct my fare-box as follows, premising that it is intended for the collection of metal coins of lawful money-.such as nickel coins, for instance-or for tokens representing section of the box in a central plane from front to rear. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in a central plane, at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2, of a modifledform of the fare-box, showing two fare-chambers, duplicates of each other, andalso showing a section througha lamp-chamber attached to the box. Fig. 4 a perspective view of a part of the receiving mechanism detached from'the box. Fig. 5 is a geometrical view, partly in section, of a part of the receiving mechanism detached from the box. Fig. 6 is a section through the nal lockchamber, showing a modification of the method shown in`Fig. 3 of locking the bottom of the chamber. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modification of the receiving mechanism sh own in' the preceding gures. Fig. 8 is a section in a central plane from front to rear through the nal lock-chamber and lower part of the fare-box, which terminates in spout or pipe.

In these figures, A is a mouth-piece in the top of the fare-box for the reception 0f coins. It is perforated with an orifice, a, theslotted part of which is adapted for the insertion of a coin. The mouth-piece A, instead ofbeing secured to the top of the box as a separate piece, may be dispensed with, and the orifice a may be made in the top itself, whichwill then become the mouth-piece. B is ahinged slide, provided with a spring at. b.` C is a stationary guide at right angles t the vslotted part of the orifice a, having a recess, c, in its lower edge, and an offset, c2, upon one side, so that this recess and offset form, in .conjunction with spring-slide B, a slot through which the coin can pass. This offset c2 may beplaced uponlthe side or sides of slide B, instead'ot' upon guide C, where it will perform a similar function. The slide B may also be made stationary, and the guide C hinged and movable against a spring, as seen in Fig. 7 when their combination in this manner will effect a result similar to that eii'ected when combined as shown in the preceding figures-that is, when a coin is pressed against the guide C it will be tripped against the edge of slide B as a fulcrum by the reaction of the guide G, and dis# charged intoa receptacle below. I) is a hinged catch, provided with a spring at d. One arm of this catch serves vto contract or to. give a varying lengthto the slotted part of theoriiicel a, and its other arm serves as a stop to limit the depression of spring-slide B. It will be objserved that this catch D also serves another purpose: If its arm in the slotted part of orifice a be moved in its line of angular motion without pressure being directly applied to slide B, the catch itself will actuate the mechanism ofthe fare-box through the medium of slide B, which it will depress if its arm in the slotted part of orifice c be made of a certain length or be depressed low enough. But this arm may be made of such configuration as to move in its line of angular motion clear of slide B, and thus not actuate the recording mechanism by any motion of its own. The office of the catch D is, therefore, threefold: First, it will prevent the slidefB from moving or actuating the registering mechanism, unless the catch itself is either first or simultaneously moved with the slide B; second, if moved-,independently of slide B by theinsertion of an improper coin, token, or instrument, it can depress the slide only sufficiently to causeV its depression to be registered upon the dial, and thus make manifest, when the fare is counted, the fact that the mechanism has been tampered with, either through accident or design; and, third, it will prevent the excessive or injurious depression of the slide B in any event other than intentional forcible rupture. E is an odset upon spring-slide B, to which is attached one end of a connecting-rod, F, whose other end connects with one end of escape-lever G. This escape-lever is pivoted at g, and, at its other. end, it forms, with escape-wheel H, a wellknown escapement; and, in combination with the pinion K, toothed-wheel L, coiled spring M, dial N, and handsO P, it constitutes a rccording mechanism. The spring M is wound up by means of a key, which passes through a hole in the frame of the box in rear ofthe face of thevdial. B is a hammer attached to escape-lever Gnand S is a gong placed at a distance from the hammer suited to its stroke. This hammer may be put upon a pivoted or lever handle, one end of which lever may be struck by the escape-lever G, instead of the handle being directly secured tothe escapelever, as shown in the drawing. T T are plates of glass inserted in suitable parts of the frame of the fare-box. V V are fare-chambers, duplicates of each other. Both may be used, or one may be omitted. bers are made to taper pyramidally, as shown in the drawing, in order that there may be room within the fare-box to allow the bottom V2 of the fare-chamber to slide back and forth, and also in order toL concentrate the fare toward the face of the box in a point more directly inline above a point in the final lockchamber W, where, also, it is desired to concentrate the fare. The sliding bottom V2 may be lprovided with one spring, as shown in the drawing, or two springs may be used side by side. D2 is a door adapted to be locked, and provided with a glass plate, T2. This door forms the front or one side of the fare-cham- The sides of these cham-` ber V, and, while allowing the interior of the fare-chamber to be seen t-hrough its glass plate T2, it also permits of access to the interior of the fare-chamber for the purpose of cleaning' it. This is an important matter, as the interior of the fare-chamber will collect a great deal of dust, causing the glass plates particularly to become, in a short time, quite opaque. The final lock-chamber W has its sides also tapered to angles suited to allow, if desired, the fare-box to be protruded a certain distance through a partition or wall of a car or Vother conveyance, andvyet to discharge the contents of the chamber within the car. W2 is a hinged or falling bottom of the final lockchamber W. It may be either latched or locked, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. X'is an outer door near the bottom of the fare-box, having 'an offset, Y, attached thereto, which folds with Athe door, and thus closes/allaccess to the falling bottom V2 when the door is locked.

This offset or bottom Y may extend as far under the bottom of the fare-box as practicable, and thus will form a neatly-closed bottom thereto; but I prefer to construct a spout or pipe, Z, on the bottom of the fare-box, forming an extension of the box-frame itself, as is seen in Fig. 8, through which all the fare in the lock-chamber will be discharged into a bag or other receptacle held closely around its mouth by an authorized collector. The outer door X being locked will prevent all access to the final lock-chamber W, for only by opening first the outer door can the falling bottom W2 be opened, and which, when opened, discharges all the contents of the chamber, so that no part of the farecan be dishonestly abstracted, leaving a portion of it in the chamber, but all the fare will be discharged together. Thus, independently of the recording mechanism, an additional check is imposed against dishonesty.V Different keys, if desired, may be fitted to the locks of the door X and final lock-chamber W, or the chamber may simply have its bottom latched.

L2 is a lamp-chamber. This lamp-chamber is sosituated that the light from a lamp placed therein is transmitted to the fare-chamber V solely by one inclined and perforated reflector, R2. The top of the lamp-chamber is formed into or has inserted in it a socket, S2, bored out and tapped to receive apipe screwing into its threads. any suitable met-al, and they thus form a neat and easily attachable and detachable chimney for the lamp-chamber.

The operation of the parts .above mentioned, and of the fare-box as a whole, is as follows: When a coin is inserted in the slotted part ofthe mouth-piece A, it will rest upon the spring-slide B, and stand about half-way out of this slot. Upon pressure being applied to the coin by the hand of a depositor sufficient to depress the slide B, its springing reaction will trip the coin by'pressing it against.

the edge of the recess c in the guide C, the edge of the recess thus becoming a fulcrum The pipe and socket are to be of for the coin above, and parallel with its diameter. The-'coin is thus forced out of the slotted` part of the mouth-piece A, provision beinglmade for its escape therefrom by the'cr'escent-shaped recess in the mouth-piece A, uniting with the slotted part thereof, and thus forming the complete orifice a.' The coin, being thus tripped, is guidedby the offset c2 upon guide C, and discharged by the further act-ion Vof spring-slide B into thefare-chamber V below.V Here the coin or fare will remain until discharged by the act `of an operator, who Will Withdraw the sliding and self-closing spring-bottom V2, by pulling the knob c, when the fare will fall into'the next receptacle provided for it,

It Will be observed that the spring-slide B, being united to the escape-lever G, when depressed by the insertion of a coin, causes the escape1ever to'release one tooth of the escape- Wheel H, whereby, through the action of t-he Wound-up spring VM and gearing K L, the hands O P register Vupon'the dial N, as in ordinaryV clock mechanism, every depression of the spring-slide B sufficient, by the reaction of the slide, to trip and discharge a coin.Y By

the `return stroke' of the escape-lever'G, after the discharge of the coin, the hammer R, attached to the escape-lever, is causedto strike the-gong, thus announcing the deposit of a fare. v

The fare having been dropped through the spring-bottom V2 into the final lock-chamber YV, the operation of discharging the iinal lockchamber is as follows: Being in shape somewhat like a hopper, its contents will quickly be discharged through its falling bottom W2,

vwhen opened, into the spout or tube Z, from which it is intended that the fare shall be received into a bag placed closely around its mouth, by some person authorized to collect I the fare, Who will thus quickly and certainly V ismsmay be used Without departing from the principle of my invention; for instance, among others, a register or counter may be employed, such' as is-ordinarily used for recording the revolutions of a steam-engine. The

4.mouth-pief'ze A, which Vconstitutes a partei' the fare-receiving mechanism, may also have its orifice a enlarged'to suit'the slide B or l ism with a slide, B, and a guide,G,4 whereby the fare is received in the fare-box, and its deposit recorded,substantially in the manner and for the purposes described and set forth.

2. -A mouth-piece, A, perforated with anoriiice, a, shaped substantially as described, and` adapted for the reception of nickel or other coins, or tokens thereof, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described and set forth.

3. The combination of a spring-catch, D,

Wit-h' a springslide, B, whereby the motion of l the slide is controlled and effected, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described and set forth.

4. The combination of a mouth-piece, A, a spring-slide, B, and a guide, C, whereby a coin is received, guided, and discharged into the fare-box, substantially in the` manner and for the purposes described and Vset forth.

5. The combination of a slide, B, a guide, C, a connecting-rod, F, and an escape-lever,

Gr, whereby a coin is discharged into the farebox, and motion communicated to any suitable recording' clock mechanism, all substan-l tially in the manner and for the purposes described and set forth.

6. The combination of an escape-lever, G, a

hammer, It, and .any suitable gong, `whereby the hammer is caused to strike the gong upon the return stroke of the escape-lever after the depositv of a fare has been made in the fareboX, all substantially in the manner and for the purposes described andi set forth.

7. The combination of an outer door, X, with a fare-chamber, iV, having tapered sides and a hinged or falling bottom, W2, whereby the chamber Wis rendered doubly secure,l and the Whole contents of the chamber necessarily discharged by the falling of its bottom, all

substantially in the manner and for the purposes described and set forth. l

ARTHUR J. MOXHAM. Vitnesses J osEPrr TYLER,

J MORGAN COLEMAN. 

